Saturday, March 2, 2013

Excercise During and After Cancer

    Exercise is an important factor in health, especially for cancer patients and survivors. Studies indicate that staying physically fit is particularly vital before, during, and after treatment. In fact, regular exercise could reduce the recurrence of cancer for survivors by as much as 50 percent. Unfortunately, researchers at Mayo Clinic have also noted that few cancer patients talk to their oncologists about exercise, and cancer sufferers tend to be reluctant to exercise. Clearly, this is an issue in serious need of greater awareness, particularly among cancer patients and survivors.

    Benefits of exercise include elevated mood, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and decreased fatigue. During treatment, each of these benefits becomes even more important than other times. Whether you are battling lymphoma, mesothelioma or any other form of cancer, during this battle, the elevated mood alone can give you hope and courage to battle through difficult times.

    Individuals who were particularly active prior to a cancer diagnosis will find it easier to continue with a fitness routine but may need to cut back on physical activity during intense treatment. Conversely, if you haven’t established a regular fitness routine, now is the time to do so. While experts generally recommend 30 minutes of continual physical exercise each day, this may be exhausting or even impossible at times. Rather than give up, try participating in smaller amounts of activity multiple times each day. For example, rather than biking or jogging for 30 minutes, you might walk at a moderate pace for 10 minutes three times a day. If you suffer from physical limitations, there are also numerous sitting exercises that are still very beneficial. It is important to speak with your doctor to develop a plan that will work for you.

    During your recovery, you need to focus on positives. Rather than looking at your limitations, concentrate on what you can do. If you have questions about exercise and how best to stay fit during and after treatment, consult your oncology staff. They will be happy to guide you toward healthy activities in which you can safely participate. As you recover and life returns to normal, incorporating physical exercise into your daily routine will become easier. The time you spend taking care of yourself is never wasted time.

-Melanie Bowen


From Joe/Fitness From Ground Zero Blogspot: Just wanted to thank Melanie Bowen for contributing this article, it's a personal issue for me as my family has a history of cancer, thank you again for choosing to guest blog here. I was glad to help.








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